The Jubilee Year: a global and local celebration

The Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year, a sacred observance held every 25 years, is set to begin on Christmas Eve 2024. Pope Francis will inaugurate the year by opening the Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican during the traditional Christmas Vigil Mass. Themed Pilgrims of Hope, next year’s Jubilee focuses on renewal, forgiveness, and fostering hope in a divided and turbulent world.

Details of the Jubilee’s global and local celebrations were shared by Fr Martin Sirju, Vicar General, during an interview on The Catholic News’ programme Altos.

Origins and global significance

Fr Sirju emphasised that the Jubilee Year is a time to “intensify the love of Christ in the world in terms of our witness of that love.” He explained that this observance finds its roots in ancient traditions of forgiveness, reconciliation, and renewal, offering the faithful an opportunity to deepen their spiritual lives.

Reflecting on the current global climate, Fr Sirju drew on Pope Francis’ call for hope.

“The Pope mentions that we are surrounded by new forms of brutality. When we thought we had enough technology and wisdom to avoid war, we see the world seems to be entering a third World War piecemeal,” he said. Yet, the Pope urges Catholics to focus on hope, becoming “pilgrims of hope in concrete ways.”

Spes Non Confudit, meaning “Hope Does Not Disappoint,” is the title of the papal document, or bull, issued by Pope Francis. “At the heart of the Jubilee Year is the heart of Christ,” Fr Sirju stated, linking this year’s theme to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a central devotion in Catholic spirituality.

The Jubilee in T&T

In Trinidad and Tobago, the Jubilee begins locally on December 29, with the opening of the Jubilee Door at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Port of Spain. This date coincides with the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, highlighting the central role of family in both society and the Church.

Fr Sirju elaborated on the local plans: “The Cathedral is the mother church of the Archdiocese, and the Jubilee Door is a special place for this sacred observance. However, we also have seven other designated sacred sites across Trinidad and Tobago to ensure that as many people as possible can participate.”

The sacred sites are:

• Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
• La Divina Pastora, Siparia
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help, San Fernando
• Church of the Assumption, Maraval
• Our Lady of Fatima, Curepe
• St Francis of Assisi, Sangre Grande
• Our Lady of Montserrat, Tortuga
• St Joseph, Scarborough, Tobago

Pilgrimages and the act of walking

A central feature of the Jubilee is the pilgrimage. While visiting sacred sites, Fr Sirju encouraged pilgrims to walk part of the way, emulating traditional practices. “For those who can, we recommend walking to these sites rather than simply driving up. It is a journey, not just externally, but also an internal pilgrimage,” he explained.

He humorously recounted, “There’s a little joke about a young man with long hair asking his father for the car keys. His father replied, ‘I’ll give you the keys if you cut your hair.’ The young man said, ‘But Jesus had long hair.’ The father responded, ‘Yes, but Jesus also walked.’”

Why the Jubilee matters

When asked about the significance of the Jubilee for ordinary people, Fr Sirju described it as a chance for personal and communal transformation. “The purpose of the Jubilee Year is to intensify the love of Christ in the world. It is time for us to focus: How can we be more Christlike? How can we witness to Christ better—personally, as communities, and in our social structures?”

He emphasised the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation, drawing on St Paul’s teaching: “God in Christ was reconciling the world to Himself, not holding people’s sins against them. The Jubilee is a time to practise reconciliation in our lives.”

Upcoming events

The Jubilee calendar includes several key events, such as a visit from Filipino prelate Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle during the Eucharistic Congress in May 2025. Cardinal Tagle’s visit underscores the global importance of the Eucharist in Catholic life and its role in uniting communities.

Additionally, local parishes will host various activities promoting corporal and spiritual works of mercy, such as feeding the hungry, comforting the sorrowful, and fostering reconciliation in families and communities.

A message of hope

Fr Sirju expressed optimism about the Jubilee’s potential impact: “The Pope invites us to practise better the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. If we take these seriously, we will see improvement in our spiritual lives, households, and workplaces.”

He concluded by saying, “The Jubilee is about becoming signs of hope in a world that so desperately needs it. It is a reminder that all is not lost and that hope truly does not disappoint.”

Assisted generation using ChatGPT.ai